Last Updated: July 18, 2021 (Refresh Now)
BTECH DMR 6X2 DMR and Analog 7 Watt Dual Band Two Way Radio 136 174MHz VHF 400 480MHz UHF with GPS and Recording Includes Full Kit with 2 Batteries Programming Cable and More
Last Updated: July 18, 2021 (Refresh Now)
8.0
SCORE
/10
Total Reviews
190
Old Reviews
91
Unverified
14
Spam Test
PASS
Yes
FM RADIO
3100 mAh
BATTERY CAPACITY
Review Analysis - 85 recent, verified reviews
Detailed Mode
Connectivity
43dmr, programming, ham, computer, btech
+88%
-12%
" ... You will likely want to get a hotspot. ... "
" ... Always start by downloading the default radio programming, saving it, and building from there - it contains radio setup information that the CPS does not contain at startup. ... If you are lucky, a local one is well organized and offers codeplugs and programming advice for this popular radio. ... Be sure to sign up for a DMR ID on RadioID (requires a valid ham license) and enter it into your radio. ... Other networks have other Parrot/Echo Talkgroup numbers (as do hotspots) and some are even Group Call, so check on your local repeaters. ... Finally, an IMPORTANT TIP: When programming the radio, never transmit while connected to the computer ... Power on when the connection is complete, and the computer will detect the radio after the radio "boots". ... If you still want to try DMR, buy this radio. ... "
" ... I have had good signal reports when using this radio. ... "
" ... The radio was received (1-14-2020) in excellent condition in an undamaged box. ... A new Windows 10 laptop had no problems with the read/write processes. ... Tech help from BTECH was fast via email but problem only solved with a new computer acquired 3-27-2020. ... "
" ... Overall I am very happy with this Btech radio, my third in their line of ham radios. ... "
" ... Around me DMR has way more infrastructure than DStar or YSF so this radio is perfect. ... "
" ... I will say as for ease of use the radio is a DMR and there is a learning curve but I am enjoying the radio. ... "
" ... Great little radio! ... "
Connectivity / FM
39dmr, ham, programming, btech, analog
+90%
-10%
" ... I have had good signal reports when using this radio. ... "
" ... New Ham Radio operators may need some assistance. ... "
" ... Wow what a great radio just getting into digital mobile radio The radio in the analog mode works great audio in both transmit and receive perfect I hate to give an angel review but so far this is the best radio I’ve ever bought. ... "
" ... My best portable radio. ... "
" ... Great DMR Radio. ... Much better radio then Baopeng, TYT, and some Yaesu radios ... "
" ... The radio is capable of being programmed both for analog and digital from the keypad. ... "
" ... I highly recommend searching the web On programming this DMR radio BEFORE attempting your first. ... "
" ... This radio is well constructed. ... If you want to get into DMR and you want a good first time experience, you won’t go wrong with this radio. ... "
Usage
23easy to use, talkgroup, menu, manual, software
+87%
-13%
" ... Just got my technician class amateur license. ... Once you get the hang of it it’s super easy to use. ... "
" ... It is easy to mess up a big complicated codeplug you've downloaded with an unwise edit (keep backups), or to mess up your own as you are building it. ... Hints: The Talkgroup list is available from the upper right red menu button (screen will have "List" above it). ... The quickest way to select/activate the Talkgroup is by hitting PTT. ... Program the radio buttons to be useful, both Long and Short press (set the Long press time to 1 second). ... # key also allows you to save a Talkgroup as a channel (but edit it later for CC, TS, etc.). ... Try programming a few "Hot Keys". ... I suggest func+1 as Menu: Radio Menu, and func+3 as Call: Digital, 4000, Group. ... "
" ... You can find lots of info on the internet about setting up the AnyTone that will apply. ... These are so handy for the house and uncovered locations that I recommend you set one up. ... "
" ... but it's been a lot of fun so far. ... "
" ... The CP software was fairly straightforward. ... "
" ... If you are living in a rural area like I am you will most likely need a hotspot to take full advantage of this rig. ... For me out in the middle of nowhere my hotspot coveres my entire property and even as far as a half mile down the road. ... "
" ... Easy to use. ... "
" ... Easy to use, Challenging to set up for DMR ... "
Usage / Ease
18radio, program, dmr, software, programming
+89%
-11%
" ... Once you figure out the programming its a breeze. ... "
" ... The CP software was fairly straightforward. ... "
" ... Programming it is simple. ... Local repeaters are easy. ... "
" ... With this one, I don't have D-star but have found the other DMR more populated and easier to use. ... "
" ... Easy to program, great audio, fantastic display that can be tailored to your liking. ... "
" ... It is easy to mess up a big complicated codeplug you've downloaded with an unwise edit (keep backups), or to mess up your own as you are building it. ... "
" ... The program is fairly easy to use and has a bunch of premade codeplugs. ... "
" ... The CPS software does have a moderate learning curve but I enjoy making changes and customizing the setup. ... "
Battery
14charger, two batteries, battery life, battery, batteries
+79%
-21%
" ... Battery life with the large 3100 mah battery is a couple days. ... "
" ... It's nice having the 2 batteries so you can have one charging while the other is in use. ... "
" ... Had no problem charging both batteries. ... "
" ... I first purchased the best on the market brand and model that was about 5x the price, only came with one battery (second battery over $80), and did not come with a drop in charger. ... LOVE that it came with a drop in charger and two batteries. ... What I have also come to love is that additional batteries and other accessories are much more afordable than the fancy brands I have purchased for over 30 years. ... "
" ... Battery seams to last forever. ... "
" ... Super quick charging. ... "
" ... Two batteries that seem to never die, quality belt clips, programming cable, headset and stand-up desk charger. ... "
" ... Battery last for a solid 2 days. ... "
Sound / Sound Quality
13radio, digital, audio, sounds, incredible
+100%
" ... The sound is good. ... "
" ... Listen with Digital Monitor to monitor everything. ... "
" ... The sound quality is incredible other than the minor volume issue. ... I am hearing impaired and find it far superior to the DSTAR digital sound. ... "
" ... The sound quality is excellent on digital but surprisingly good on analog to. ... "
" ... This thing has very loud audio and the transmitter range is incredible. ... "
" ... I’m also getting good audio reports on the other end. ... In analog mode it sound great as well. ... "
" ... This radio has a much better internal speaker than other Chinese made radios that I own. ... "
" ... Has great audio and is very load with the 1 watt speaker built in. ... "
Sound
13radio, digital, audio, volume, sounds
+100%
" ... The sound is good. ... "
" ... Listen with Digital Monitor to monitor everything. ... "
" ... The sound quality is incredible other than the minor volume issue. ... I am hearing impaired and find it far superior to the DSTAR digital sound. ... "
" ... The sound quality is excellent on digital but surprisingly good on analog to. ... "
" ... This thing has very loud audio and the transmitter range is incredible. ... "
" ... It has good bass response so it doesn’t sound like a tin can. ... I’m also getting good audio reports on the other end. ... In analog mode it sound great as well. ... "
" ... This radio has a much better internal speaker than other Chinese made radios that I own. ... "
" ... Has great audio and is very load with the 1 watt speaker built in. ... "
Software
12cps, software, program, updates, radio
+50%
-50%
" ... I triple checked everything in the programming and made sure I was within range of the repeaters and I always got the error message 'repeater not found." ... The UI of the radio is borderline unusable and the programming software should be a crime against humanity. ... I know that I'm going to get a response saying "DiD yOu UpDaTe ThE FiRmWaRe?!" ... "
" ... When I pushed the 2 buttons down that are needed to put out a firmware update mode it never put it in the mode and boots to the normal screen of the radio when turning on. ... "
" ... Still haven’t programmed since I don’t understand how and why the general instructions available on the web don’t seem to work ... "
" ... The only downside is that it doesn’t have a CPS password. ... "
Body
9hand, clip, belt, radio, heft
+100%
" ... On thr analog side it works great and has as much range as any hand held transceiver. ... "
" ... Lastly, this feels as rugged as the pro-grade big name radio issued to me as a firefighter. ... "
" ... You'll probably want to set the Talkgroup Hold Times to "Infinite", to hang onto whatever one you've selected as long as you want. ... "
" ... I like small business. ... "
" ... Impressed by its build quality, has the heft, fit, and finish reminiscent of the big 'M' radios with a small fraction of the price. ... "
" ... Looks cool but I'm stoops, idk how to use this. ... "
" ... However, the overall quality, great feel in hand, heft and build quality are great, along with the lovely screen. ... "
" ... It feels like a brick in your hand, solid, and has a pretty good weight to it. ... "
Usage / Setup
6code plug, learning, instructions, curve, cps
+100%
" ... You can find lots of info on the internet about setting up the AnyTone that will apply. ... "
" ... Just got my technician class amateur license. ... "
" ... It's lots of fun but there is a learning curve to get your first code plug ... "
" ... 5 stars for "easy to use" does not mean it's easy to use if you don't read the instructions carefully. ... "
" ... The CPS software does have a moderate learning curve but I enjoy making changes and customizing the setup. ... "
" ... The CP software was fairly straightforward. ... "
Software / Apps
6program, cps, programming software, download, spreadsheet
+83%
-17%
" ... ), but once you know of them, you'll quickly learn more online or poking around in the CPS (radio programming software). ... You will likely want to EXPORT various lists and tables from the CPS as a CSV (Comma Separated Values) text file and edit it in a spreadsheet program to move in old FM repeater lists you may have from CHIRP, to combine or reorder Talkgroup Lists, etc., then IMPORT them back into the CPS. ... A free spreadsheet program like LibreOffice works fine, and only basic spreadsheet features are generally needed. ... The Btech site offers download of the latest Caller ID list, which you'll want to load into your CPS and radio so you'll see who is talking. ... "
" ... YouTube is a great resource for learning how to program it. ... "
" ... Good luck finding an app to do this. ... "
" ... Software works well and support is good. ... "
Price
6price, money, value, features, btech
+83%
-17%
" ... Great value for your money. ... As others have said, the radio is an incredible value for the money. ... "
" ... The BTech 6X2 is very similar to the Anytone 868, but has more features at a slightly lower price. ... "
" ... I really like this rig, coming from a TYT MD-UV380, this is a superior radio, and at a great price. ... "
Features
66x2, price, lots, learn, dmr
+100%
" ... Loved the features but was leary of carrying around such an expensive handheld. ... "
" ... The features are stable and most bugs have been crushed. ... I will refer to various features without explaining them completely (or perhaps not even accurately! ... "
" ... I recommend this as you will learn the functions. ... "
" ... Had lots of options. ... "
" ... As good as Any Tone minus a few features. ... "
" ... The BTech 6X2 is very similar to the Anytone 868, but has more features at a slightly lower price. ... "
Battery / Charging
6charger, batteries, programming, problem, clips
+83%
-17%
" ... Two batteries that seem to never die, quality belt clips, programming cable, headset and stand-up desk charger. ... "
" ... Had no problem charging both batteries. ... "
" ... It's nice having the 2 batteries so you can have one charging while the other is in use. ... "
" ... This product is amazing I just have had some issues with the battery charger and the fact that I missed some clips in my order I’m hoping that all will get resolved but so far it’s been amazing ... "
" ... Super quick charging. ... "
Body / Build Quality
5one, heft, hand, feels, clip
+80%
-20%
" ... Lastly, this feels as rugged as the pro-grade big name radio issued to me as a firefighter. ... "
" ... Impressed by its build quality, has the heft, fit, and finish reminiscent of the big 'M' radios with a small fraction of the price. ... "
" ... However, the overall quality, great feel in hand, heft and build quality are great, along with the lovely screen. ... "
" ... It feels like a brick in your hand, solid, and has a pretty good weight to it. ... "
Software / Firmware
4updates, update the firmware, anytone, 878, spi
+25%
-75%
" ... I know that I'm going to get a response saying "DiD yOu UpDaTe ThE FiRmWaRe?!" ... "
" ... When I pushed the 2 buttons down that are needed to put out a firmware update mode it never put it in the mode and boots to the normal screen of the radio when turning on. ... "
" ... In order to do firmware updates, your computer must be able to open a file with an SPI extension. ... I ended up having to use the laptop of another family member in order to update the firmware. ... One star off for the lack of a second belt clip and the SPI firmware file. ... "
Reliability
4working, weeks, get, days, 2
+50%
-50%
" ... Update: Radio stopped transmitting after 20 days. ... "
" ... I spent 2 weeks trying to get this radio to work. ... "
Body / Comfort
4solid, screen, quality, overall, heft
+100%
" ... On thr analog side it works great and has as much range as any hand held transceiver. ... "
" ... However, the overall quality, great feel in hand, heft and build quality are great, along with the lovely screen. ... "
" ... It feels like a brick in your hand, solid, and has a pretty good weight to it. ... "
Usage / Controls
3talkgroup, radio, key, buttons, menus
+100%
" ... Hints: The Talkgroup list is available from the upper right red menu button (screen will have "List" above it). ... The quickest way to select/activate the Talkgroup is by hitting PTT. ... Program the radio buttons to be useful, both Long and Short press (set the Long press time to 1 second). ... # key also allows you to save a Talkgroup as a channel (but edit it later for CC, TS, etc.). ... Try programming a few "Hot Keys". ... I suggest func+1 as Menu: Radio Menu, and func+3 as Call: Digital, 4000, Group. ... "
" ... The menu is intuitive and simple to use. ... "
" ... Kenwood has always had the best when it comes to ease of use and practicality of menus and buttons but the BTECH is definitely different. ... "
Scan
3scanner, use, scan, p25, lists
+100%
" ... Scanning on this once you get the basic understanding is easy to use. ... "
" ... One is the scanning structure, allowing up to 8 (I think) scan lists for each channel. ... This makes it much easier to make up scan lists for different types of channels, then include several lists to provide the kind of scanning you'd want while working with each channel (repeater, simplex DMR/FM, HotSpot, etc. ... "
" ... I bought it for a friend who needs a P25 scanner. ... "
Marketplace
3returned, returning, product, btech, box
+67%
-33%
" ... Product arrived as advertised. ... "
" ... Complete in the shipping box. ... "
Display
3quality, overall, heft, hand, easy to program
+100%
" ... The screen is also superior, appearing in high contrast color that I can see through my sunglasses. ... "
" ... However, the overall quality, great feel in hand, heft and build quality are great, along with the lovely screen. ... "
" ... Easy to program, great audio, fantastic display that can be tailored to your liking. ... "
Connectivity / Device Compatibility
3windows, repeaters, radio, local, running
+100%
" ... Other networks have other Parrot/Echo Talkgroup numbers (as do hotspots) and some are even Group Call, so check on your local repeaters. ... Finally, an IMPORTANT TIP: When programming the radio, never transmit while connected to the computer ... "
" ... A new Windows 10 laptop had no problems with the read/write processes. ... Tech help from BTECH was fast via email but problem only solved with a new computer acquired 3-27-2020. ... "
" ... Be ready to program by PC. ... "
Cable
3radio
+67%
-33%
" ... It is very easy to hit PTT while connecting and disconnecting the programming cable. ... "
" ... It comes with programming cable which is rare these days. ... "
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Specifications
Battery
Battery Capacity: 3100 mAh
Connectivity
FM Radio: Yes